Defending champion Venus Williams outlasted U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (5) Friday to advance to the final of the Hong Kong Champions Challenge.

American Venus Williams returns a shot to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova Friday, Jan. 7, 2005. [AP]

In Saturday's final Williams, ranked ninth in the world, will meet sixth-ranked Russian Elena Dementieva, last year's two-time Grand Slam finalist. Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova pulled out of the tournament because of a stomach virus, although she was not in contention for the title after an earlier loss to Dementieva.

The players were using the Hong Kong exhibition tournament as a warmup for the Australian Open later this month.

Editor: Donald